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(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. PETERHANSL.

MACHINE FOR PLUOKING BEAVER AND OTHER SKINS. No. 331,906. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Q. (fly/4M6? f I 6 m G g,

ATTORNEYS N PETERS, P'uulbhlhugraphnn Washivvglnm n c.

(N0 Mbdel. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. PETERHANSL.

MACHINE FOR PLUUKING BEAVER AND OTHER SKINS.

Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

WITNESSES: d.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nv P512515 mlu-Lnho n her. W-Ashingtan n. I;

(No Model.)

- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 P. PETERHANSL.

MACHINE FOR PLUGKING BEAVER AND OTHER SKINS.

No. 331,906. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

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I WITNESSES INVENTOE fl. (2923/41 W ATTORNEYS N. PETiHS. Phutvulhcgraphni. waurin wn. B.

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FRAXK PETERHANSL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

iViACl-HNE FOR PLUCKING BEAVER AND GTHER SKENS.

EiPEGIIEIfiATION forming part.

of Letters Patent his. 331,906, dated December 8, 1885.

Application filed June 21, 1884. Serial No. 135,616. (No model.)

f0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK lnrnnniinsr, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Plucking Beaver and other Skins, of which the following is a specification.

The skins of beavers, seals, and other am phibious animals have long glossy hair or bristles, the so-called water-hair, which covers the soft line hair or wool that forms, after dressing,thc main attraction of the same. All these skins have to be freed of the waterhair before they can be dyed and finished for use.

Different machines have heretofore been devised for the purpose of clipping the water hair of beaver, seal, or other skins, in which a bellows or other air-forcing a ipa-ratus is used in connection with means for stretching and feeding the skin, means to retain the fine hair or wool, and means for cutting off the stiff projecting bristles.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved machine by which the thick bristles or water-hair of the skins are removed in a rapid, uniform, and reliable manner by plucking without the use of an air-forcing apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine for plucking beaver and other skins. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on line a; 1;, Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail vertical transverse sections of the working parts drawn on a large scale and shown in ,1 different positions, so as to illustrate the method 5 of plucking the bristles. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical transverse section on line y 3;, Fig. 4. Figs. 7 and S are details of aspiring-clamp for stretching the skin, showing it respectively in open and closed position, and Fig. 9 is a detail side view of the clamp shown in Figs. 7 and S.

bnnilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the supportingd'raine of my improved machine for plucking beaver and othcrskins. A knifecdged bar, 13, extends transversely from one end of the frame to the other and is rigidly secured thereto. Over the knife-edged bar 33 the skin to be plucked is tightly stretched by suitable means, those shown in the drawings consisting of straps (1. Ct, that are attached to a roller, 0, and provided at their free ends with spring-clamps b, the fulerumed and serrated jaws bb, which are closed by links Zr, that are connected to the straps a a, as shown in Figs. 7, S, and 9. The opposite end of the skin is also attached to spring-clamps b, which are attached by short straps to to a fixed transverse bar, (L as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The links I) of the clamps b open or close the jaws b b by means of an anti-friction roller, 1)", that acts on the smooth levers of the jaws b b, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The proper tension of the skin is imparted by a weighted transverse roller, D, the weight D of which is hung by pivotlinks (Z (Z below the roller, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The skin is intermittently wound up on the roller Oby means of a pawl, e, and ratchet-wheel e, the pawl 6 being pivoted to the upper end of afulcrunied lever, c, the lower canrshaped end of which is held by a spiral spring, 6", in contact with an anti-friction roller, 6, of a treadle, E. The pawl e is held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel e by a spring, A checkpawl, 0', holds the ratchet-wheel e in position during the rccedinginotion of the pawl e. The depression of the trcadle E causes the disengagement of the pawl e from the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, while the release of the treadle produces the forward motion of the fulcru med lever c", so that the pawl c reengages the teeth of the ratchet-wheel c and turns the roller 0 for the required distance. By the action of the treadle E on the pawland-ratchet mechanisin thegradual winding up of the skin on the roller 0 is produced and the skin drawn gradually over theknife-edgcd bar B, the skin being kept in tightlystrctched condition by the weighted roller D. The treadle E is further connected by rods E with slide-plates E, which are guided by oblong slotsf along the fixed bar B, and by narrower slotsf at the upper end along fixed guide-pinsf as shown clearly in Figs. 3, 4:, and 5. The upper ends of the slide-plates are connected to straps g, which are passed over rollers q at the upper part of the supporting-frame A and connected by springs q to fixed points of the frame A. The downward motion of the treadle E lowers the slideplates E against the tension of the springs, and on the release of the treadle said springs cause the raising of the treadle and of the slide-plates E.

On each slide-plate E is supported a second auxiliary slide plate, E, which is connected to the opposite slide-plate E by transverse pieces E", one at each side of the fixed knifeedged bar B. The auxiliary slide-plates E" are guided on raised flanges f, extending around the sides of the slots f of the main slide-plates E'". The auxiliary slide-plates E are connected by spiral springsf to the main slide-plates E", as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

On the transverse connecting-pieces E is supported a horizontal guard frame, F, that extends across the knife-edged bar 13, and which is provided with transverse slots, through which the stiff bristles or water-hair of the skin are projected when the guard-frame is lowered. The bristles or water-hair are passed through the slots of the guard-frame F by the action of an oscillating comb, F, the tines of which pass close to that part of the skin above the knife-edged bar, so that the bristles are combed up and carried along in upward direction through the slots of the guard-frame F. Simultaneously therewith the guardframe F is lowered by the action of the treadle until it arrives close to the k nife-edged bar B, as shown in Fig. 4. The motion of the auxiliary slide-plate E is next arrested by the raised flange or rim f while the downward motion of the main slide-plates E is continued. The tines of the auxiliary comb F are moved upward above the guardframe F with the bristles, the comb F being then moved sidewise, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to be out of the way of the plucking-jaws G, which are pivoted to the main slide-plates E vertically above the bar B. The lateral motion of the comb F is accomplished by a fulcrumcd lever, g, the pointed end of which engages a tapering recess, 9, of the fixed bar 13.

The outer end of the lever g is connected by a pivot-rod, g", to ashort backwardlyextending crank-arrmg, of the auxiliary comb F. The comb F is pivoted at both ends to slots of the auxiliary slide-plates E, and engaged by the slotted upper ends of pivoted and spring-actuated pieces A fixed anti-friction roller, is arranged on the end standards of the frame A sidewise of the slotted piece 9 which latter is pressed by its spring 9 against said antifriction roller g. Each main slideplate E is guided by a vertical slot, on the roller 9, the slot controllingthe downward motion of the slide-plate E. The camshaped edge of the oscillating piece 9 moves along the roller 9 by the downward motion of the main slide-plate E", and serves, in connection with the knife-edged bar B and the levers g and links g, first to raise the tines of the auxiliary comb through the slots of the guardsame out of the skin.

frame F and then to move the auxiliary comb F sidewise in the slots of the auxiliary slideplates E, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 3, 4., and 5. The oscillating and lateral motions of the auxiliary guard-comb F take place during the downward motion of the treadle E, which also lowers the main and auxiliary slide-plates E and the guard-frame F until the latter arrives at a point just above the edge of the fixed bar B. \Vhile the guard-- frame F is retained in this position the main slide-plates E continue to move downward farther, so as to stretch the spiral springs f and keep thereby the auxiliary plates E and the guard-frame F in position until the main slide-plates E and the guard-comb F have completed their motion. The plucking-jaws G Gare lowered with the main slide-plates E until they arrive at a point just above the guard-frame F. The jaws G G are held apart by means of spiral springs h h, interposed between the same. One of the jaws G is provided with an upwardly-extending arm or arms, G, which are connected at their upper ends by spiral springs m to the main slide-plates E, said arms abutting when in normal position by the action of the spiral springs m against fixed stops m. The other jaw G is provided with a central forward extending lever, G, which is taken hold of by the workman for the purpose of operating the jaws. Both levers are provided at their'lower edges with serrated steel faces h IL, which firmly clamp the stiff bristles projecting above the guard frame F when the plucking jaws are closed by pressure on the lever G The pressure exerted by the lever G upon onejaw- G closes the serrated steel faces of the jaws, after which a quick jerky motion is imparted to the lever G". which, in connection with the weight of thejaws and the tension exerted by the springs m, causes the sudden plucking of.

motion of the treadle causes the turning of the winding-up roller by the pawl-and-ratchet mechanismdescribed, so that the skin is fed forward over the knife-edged bar and the next adjoining portion, and ready to be exposed to the action of the plucking devices. The treadle is again lowered and the guard-frame placed above-the next adjoining narrow strip of skin on the knife-edged bar. The auxiliary guard-comb is moved upward and sidewise of the same, and the plucking-jaws are lowered so as to take hold of the bristles and pull the The operation described is repeated untilthe entire skin is completely plucked. The operation of pulling or plucking the water-hair from the skins is thus accomplished in a quick and reliable manner without the use of an air-draft from a bellows or other air-forcing apparatus.

The machine is specially adapted for plucking the water-hairs of beaver and seal skins and in all such other cases in which the plucking of the bristles is preferable to the mere clipping or cutting" of the same close to the skinitsclf. By plucking the bristles the skins are rendered softer and smoother, as they are pulled out at their roots and no short portions of the bristles left standing in the fine hair or wool of the skins, as is the case when clip ping-knives have been used.

I am aware that knife-edge bars, reciproeating pluckingjaws, and oscillating combs are not new broadly.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination of a knife-erlge bar over which the skins are stretched and fed, a vertically-reciprocating slotted guard-frame, an oscillating laterally-reciprocating guardcomb, and oscillating and vertically-reciprocating plucking-jaws, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a supportingframe, a knifeedge bar over which the skins are stretched and fed, a vertically-reciprocating main plate, oscillating jaws pivoted to said inain plate, an auxiliary vertically-reciproeating plate provided with horizontal slots, a horizontal slotted guard-frame attached to said auxiliary plate, stops for arresting the downward movement of the auxiliary plate, before the downward movement of the main plate is completed, an oscillating comb supported in said slots of the auxiliary plate and provided with a backwardly-projecting crank-arm, a lever pivoted to said main slideplate, one end of which extends between fixed stops, and a link connecting the end of said lever with the crank-arm of said comb, where by the latter is oscillated during the downward movement of said main plate, substantially as described.

3. The combination ofa supporting-frame, a knii'eedge bar over which the skins are stretched and lid, a vertically-reciprocating main plate, oscillating jaws pivoted to said main plate, an auxiliary vcrtically-reciproeating plate provided with horizontal slots, a horizontal slotted guard-frame attached to said auxiliary plate, stops for arresting the downward movement of the auxiliary plate before the downward movement of the main plate is completed, an oscillating comb supported in said slots and provided with a backwardly-projecting crank'arm, a slotted cam-lever engaging said comb and pivoted to said main plate, and a fixed anti-friction roller and spring for actuating said lever to move said comb laterally within said horizontal slot of the auxiliary plate during the downward movement of the main plate, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a supporting-frame, a knife-edge bar over which the skins are stretched and fed, a vertically-reciproeating main plate, oscillating jaws pivoted to said main plate, an auxiliary vertiCally-reciprocating plate provided with horizontal slots, a horizontal slotted guaul-frame attached to said auxiliary plate, stops for arresting the downward movement of the auxiliary plate before the downward movement of the main plate is completed, an oscillating comb supported in said slots and provided with a backwardly-projecting crank-arm, a lever pivoted to said main slide-plate, one end of which extends between fixed stops, and a link connecting the end of said lever with the crank-arm of said comb, whereby the latter is oscillated during the downward movement of said main plate, aslotted cam-lcver engaging said comb and pivoted to said main plate, and a fixed anti-friction roller and spring for actuating said lever to move said comb laterally within said horizontal slot of the auxiliary plate during the downward movement of the main plate, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed my name in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK PETERHAXQL W i tn esses:

PAUL GOEPEL, SIDNEY Manx. 

